Compare towns
Amherst vs Stowe vs Windham vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Stowe has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Amherst | Stowe | Windham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
5,285Lowest |
16,038Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 213% above U.S. |
$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Stowe Town School District | Windham School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Stowe High School | Windham High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.3 |
12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.